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Police outside the house of Ann Widdecombe in Haytor in Dartmoor. The ex-Tory prisons minister was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor on Thursday after sustaining serious injuries, July 13, 2026
COUNTER-TERRORISM police are now leading the investigation into the death of former politician Ann Widdecombe.
Head of Britain’s counter-terrorism policing Laurence Taylor said that new information and evidence had come to light during the investigation.
A 28-year-old man arrested on suspicion of her murder on Saturday has since been rearrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.
Ms Widdecombe, 78, was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor on Thursday after sustaining serious injuries.
She served as a Conservative minister before later becoming a Reform UK spokeswoman.
Mr Taylor said: “Building on the progress made by our colleagues in Devon and Cornwall Police, we now have new information and evidence that means Counter Terrorism Policing is now leading the investigation.
“We are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry to establish the motivation for this attack.
“Our priority is progressing this investigation quickly, with all the capabilities we have available to us.”
Police are asking anyone with information to come forward.
In the wake of Ann Widdecombe’s murder, JOHN GREEN wonders whether the government will really get to grips with the root cause of these attacks on our MPs
